She was never known to attend so much as a point-to-point, but when a colt wasn't furnishing a-right, or a horse entered for a big event was not coming on as he should, it was Ma who was sent for and Ma who took the matter in hand.
"I've nothing against horses and racing," she would say. "God meant 'em to race and jump, I reck'n. But I don't think he meant us to bet and beer over 'em."
From the first she was a power in the Putnam stable.
Except in a crisis she interfered little with the lads, but when they went sick or smashed themselves, she took them into her house and nursed them as though they were her own. If they were grateful they did not show it; but in times of stress some spirit whose presence you would never have suspected made itself suddenly and sweetly apparent.
The Bible Class for the lads in her husband's employ she had started on the first Sunday of her reign at Putnam's.
It was voluntary for those over fifteen; but all the lads attended—"to oblige."
That class at the start had been the subject of untold jokes in the racing world.
There had even been witticisms about it in the Pink Un and other sporting papers.
And when Mat had been asked what he thought of it the story went that he had answered:
"I winks at ut," adding, with a twinkle: "I winks at a lot—got to now."